Rituals bind us to one another. In a fan community, rituals take many forms. In the clothing we wear, the cheers we shout, the fives we high– that’s where togetherness happens. It’s like a wholesome mob mentality, and everyone’s allowed in the mob so long as they can do a couple simple things.

Problem is: sometimes those rituals get us into trouble. Some rituals become bad habits, and those bad habits have got to go. You know what I’m talking about: It’s all your fault, Who Cares?, RED!, and a certain nickname for Sidney Crosby. It’s not cool anymore. Let’s discuss.

“It’s all your fault”

Imagine a Capitals player scoring a goal. I ask you to use your imagination because my recent memory is coming up blank. To make it slightly easier, pretend it’s the Caps best goal-scorer Jason Chimera doing the deed. Once P.A. Announcer Wes Johnson growls out the scorer’s name, the red army typically berates the defeated goalie with a taunt of “it’s all your fault!”

There are three ways to categorize a goal: due to scorer skill, due to goalie error, or due to some combination of the two. When the crowd at Verizon Center says, “It’s all your fault!”, they’re also relieving the scorer of any responsibility for that goal. Jason Chimera worked hard for that goal, but you’re saying he got it just because the other guy was incompetent.

Instead: Don’t.

RED!

After witnessing the siege of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Frederick native Francis Scott Key wrote a poem that was later set to the tune of an old British drinking song. “The Star-Spangled Banner” became our national anthem a century later, and it’s been performed at sporting events since the 1950’s. The lyrics remind us that America’s very existence is owed to many valorous dead. In Chinatown, Caps fans memorialize America’s patriots by tunelessly shouting “Red!” during the “rocket’s red glare” line.

Beyond being rude to singer Caleb Green (who is too much of a pro to ever let it shake him), the shouting is dumb. And I say this as a purveyor of dumb things. It’s no more clever than guffawing whenever the number 69 appears. (Heh.) There are many ways to enjoy the national anthem, and all of them are valid so long as this is a nominally free country. But we can do better than this.

Instead: Sing it loud! Or stand silently. Or sit in quiet protest. In America it’s your call, but you don’t have to be a dick about it. (We’ll tackle the “O” thing another time.)

Who cares!

When the opposing team scores at Verizon Center, Wes has the solemn duty to read the scorer, assist, and time of goal. As soon as he finishes, the crowd shouts, “Who cares!”

For context, as of game 23 the Capitals are third-to-last in the league in goals against per game– averaging 3.22. We all care deeply that goals are being scored against our team. If not, we should.

Perhaps when the Caps are leading by 6 goals and Mathieu Perreault is taking his shifts in the cage just for a giggle, it’d be cool. But that’s not right now. Right now our team is fighting for every precious goal it can get, and every puck in our net is a minor tragedy. “Who cares” is false bravado at the wrong time. So….

Instead: Don’t.

Cindy Crysby

When fans discuss star players from other teams, character assassination is hard to avoid. That’s why we get Alex Semin is a diver, P.K Subban is a jerk, and I wouldn’t pee on Danny Briere if he were caked in napalm and I’ve been pounding Gatorades all day. But that stuff is kind of quaint. So too is calling Sidney Crosby a whiner. After all, thanks to 24/7, we’ve got incontrovertible video documentation of Sidney Crosby being a whiner.

Some fans call him Cindy Crysby. Crysby is a little obvious and punny, but I guess it’s fine. Cindy, on the other hand… Here’s why that’s a dick move. You see your sister, mother, girlfriend, wife, daughter sitting next to you? She heard that. And now she’s internalizing what you said– that being a girl is a bad thing. That women have no place in sports, regardless of what mindblowing stuff my 15-year-old cousin is doing on that blueline in Vermont. When you call him Cindy as an insult, you’re perpetuating that boys club nonsense, and it is keeping a pretty cool sport on the fringes.

Sidney Crosby is back, but he’s still worth mocking. Not because he’s a little bitch and not because we wish serious injury upon him, but because he’s our opponent. We can find new and better ways to talk trash. For now, we’ll toe a fine line.

Instead: Create a poster like this:

But I’m not trying to be a downer; there’s a ton of good habits among Caps fans too. The 100% participation rate for “Unleash the Fury” is still inspiring, and we’ll always have The Horn Guy and Goat to get the crowd going. Maybe we could deal with a few “Crash! The! Net!” cheers and maybe a “ka-NOOOOOOO-ble” chant, but that stuff will come in time.

Verizon Center always explodes in applause for military folks. That’s fantastic. Since there ain’t no way I’m fighting, I’m happy to thank those who will and have. I suppose you guys feel the same. Right on.

Then there’s the rally balloon, an emerging and possibly fleeting trend of spurring a comeback by floating a creepy red balloon out over the ice. That one’s a bit mischievous, isn’t it? It’ll pass for now.

And then there’s my favorite: the D.C Hat Trick. We haven’t seen this one recently, and you may not know it at all, so I’ll explain. When a player scores two goals in regulation and then scores during the shootout, fans at Verizon Center lose their dang minds! It’s great! Even though that goal doesn’t really count at all, Caps fans throw hats on the ice and hoot and holler like history has just been made. This is awesome and should never stop.

Don’t ever change, D.C. We love you just the way you are. Except for, ya know, all the stuff I listed at the top. Change that right away.

Share On

I consider RMNB as one of my favorite sites on the interwebs. But
I’m a little surprised that that you guys would post this given everything
going on with the Caps right now. Bad timing. The moral is low on the team and even lower
with the fans. There’s a million other stories you could have devoted your time
to rather than criticizing

the fans. And honestly, I feel you are in the
minority with a lot of the things you scrutinize in the article. C’mon
“the rockets RED glare”? It doesn’t get much better than that.

We yell ‘Go Bears’ when the anthem singer gets to the word ‘free’. I know some older folks and vets find it distasteful but it’s fun and no one means any disrespect.

Meanwhile I think this article is bang on to-day. This time, more than ever, we need to recognize that it is time to break the bad habits.

Me

Last night, went to my first game this season after having tickets for 11 years and all of the above still irked me. I didn’t miss that part of the game day experience at all. Kudos for a well written article

I agree with everything you said, but ESPECIALLY the “Who Cares” crap that goes on. We SHOULD care, and we should acknowledge the player who scored. Instead of hearing the crowd scream “who cares” at a goalie, wouldn’t it be awesome for the crowd to chant the scoring players name? “Chimerrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa, Chimerrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa, Chimerrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa.” Now, THAT would be rad.

Capsfan2475

Wonderful and well written. I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Well done.

Knublesknights

I asked Bob McDonald (one of the other regular anthem singers, and a member of the U.S. Army Chorus) about the “O” and “RED” issue last year, and as I recall he actually said it didn’t bother him. That surprised me a little bit, but he’s sung the anthem for all kinds of games in the area for a long time and guess he’s used to it. As with Caleb, it certainly doesn’t phase him during a performance. Even if they personally hate it (as I do), I doubt either one would say they wish people would stop. Bob did say he loves when people sing along loudly.

Chris

As a former member of the USAF, I can honestly say the RED! doesn’t bother me. I still stand at attention as you suggest, and think nothing less of the people that yell RED! or O!

But as far as the rest, have we become that PC, that sterile? What next, no yelling at the ref for a crap call? Please, don’t take the fun out of the game. Obviously if you are sitting next to young children, then perhaps you dial things back. Perhaps the best advice here is to suggest that you know your area where you are sitting, but to suggest we don’t get into the game via those methods … hogwash.

Blog still excellent, though …

Ovis_Missing_Tooth

Break bad habits? The
fans pay money to go to the game to have fun, act crazy, yell at the other
players and feel part of a community with other fans rooting for the same team.
These are Verizon Center traditions. And
the “Cindy
Crysby” portion of the article is ridiculous. Maybe we can just start rooting
for the opposing team. This is the type of thinking that allows rangers and
Flyers fan come to VC and yell things as Caps fans look away and pretend they don’t
hear anything.

Peter

No one is saying don’t have fun. I think you’ll notice that we have more fun than most people do. Try to say we don’t have a sense of humor on this site.

Some people don’t realize they’re being a-holes and like even less to hear it. Doesn’t mean it’s not true.

People who shout the O! at Caps games are annoying, not because they’re disrespecting the anthem (they’re not), but because the Orioles aren’t playing!

It’s even worse when random people do it during Nationals games. /rolleyes

Jerry

Peter – well said! I think the next one should be written about leaners. That seems to be a contagious behavior in the 400’s at Verizon! Sit back and watch so we all can see!!

Peter

1. “P.C.” doesn’t mean what you think it means. This article has nothing to do with the vagaries of dwarfism or “African-American” vs. “black” usage.

2. Dear god, yell at the ref. Urge your children to do so as well. No one is telling you not to have fun. I’m just pointing out (to people who might not notice) how awful some of these traditions are.

Minitwins7

Ok so i think everyone is missing the point if the who cares. You notice that it is always AFTER they aannounce the scorers? It’s not that we don’t care that they scored. Everyone cares about that. I however don’t give a crap about what player scored and who had the assists. That’s my personal opinion on that one

Jim

Really?

Jim

Really?

Fredneck Chris

I’m not sure when the “Red” thing started, but it seems that it was a shot at Baltimore because several times during the anthem 4-5 years ago, I would hear the “O” at Caps games and you could hear quite a few people shout ” Go back to Baltimore”. There are a lot of Baltimore residents that are Caps fans and they like hockey just like all of us.

Minitwins7

Go O’s! I like to give a shout out to the O’s every caps game and just about everygame i go to.

Sentientcheese

Absolutely disagree. Why is it we have to be classy, exactly? Does “rising above” other stadiums somehow give us superiority? Nah, i’ll take our quirks any day.

And as for cindy, really? So when you see chokevechkin or tshirts that say ovechikin Laich semin, we shouldn’t have a retort at the ready?

They may be dumb classless chants… but their OUR dumb classless chants.

Peter

RMNB’s Peter and Ian = Orioles fans

Peter

Not saying we need to be classy, just saying we can do better than this set. We don’t have to make little girls feel bad just to trash Crosby. We don’t need to crap on Wes to say we’re not happy about scoring goals.

Nativism in sports is good. I think we can do our version of it even better.

Peter

Not saying we need to be classy, just saying we can do better than this set. We don’t have to make little girls feel bad just to trash Crosby. We don’t need to crap on Wes to say we’re not happy about scoring goals.

Nativism in sports is good. I think we can do our version of it even better.

Peter

Not saying we need to be classy, just saying we can do better than this set. We don’t have to make little girls feel bad just to trash Crosby. We don’t need to crap on Wes to say we’re not happy about scoring goals.

Nativism in sports is good. I think we can do our version of it even better.

ORazor

Completely concur. I think this article is really short sighted. So, basically, at a time when the Caps are at their worst, when they’re scrambling to sell tickets, we should get rid of all the fan-based traditions that promote unity among the fan base? Super smart.

Having common things to do with the other fans is just about the only thing we have going for us right now.

Addendum: If, somehow, we were magically able to seamlessly change all of our chants into something more classy, avoiding the pitfalls above, I’d be all for it. I concur that when we’ve given up 5 goals, I certainly care, and the chant is pointless. I just think it’s a horrible idea to try to change things now, of all times.

Ovis_Missing_Tooth

So is seeing Jay Beagle pull his
tooth out after being annihilated better for a little girl than hearing someone
say “Cindy”? Dude, its hockey not ballet. It’s a tough sport and going to attach a rowdy
fan base. I wonder would DH32 would think about not yelling at other players. Again, I love the site but disagree with the
article.

Ovis_Missing_Tooth

So is seeing Jay Beagle pull his
tooth out after being annihilated better for a little girl than hearing someone
say “Cindy”? Dude, its hockey not ballet. It’s a tough sport and going to attach a rowdy
fan base. I wonder would DH32 would think about not yelling at other players. Again, I love the site but disagree with the
article.

Peter, you so eloquently explained something that has bothered me for a long time. When I hear b*tch for a man, or ladies for a group of guys, I feel as you described. That for some reason the ultimate insult for a man is to be called a woman. We can teach our kids to be better than that, to value and respect all types of people. Thanks!

Perraudsteve

Sit silently with your hands crossed.

NO YELLING ON THE BUS!

Lrhflute

First, the “O” started back in the day as a way to pay homage to the Orioles. This was when the Caps were playing in Landover, MD. But now, I think most people think it has to do with Ovie. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). Personally, I’ve stopped because I’d rather sing along with Caleb or Bob.

Second, I hate Crosby, and I have no problems calling him a Crybaby, but I, too don’t like the Cindy part. It has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a girl….I know that I know hockey and I’ve been a fan longer than most of the people in the place, but I have a friend named Cindy….she doesn’t care for it, either!

Third, can I add one thing to your list that drives me NUTS?! Say we’re down 3-0. We score to make it 3-1…and some fans start chanting the goalie’s name. NO! Just, NO!! I’m okay with it as long as we’re, ya know, winning! Not just because we score. That is just going to encourage that goalie and make things worse!! This one has only started a little bit this season, but let’s nip this bad habit in the bud!

All in all, I love the Caps….always have, always will! Most of the things on your list don’t bother me (although they’ll start bothering me now). 🙂 Also, I love going to games…there is no bigger thrill (and I’m only 32, but the Caps are going to give me or my mother a heart attack if they keep this up). Oh, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this blog!! You guys make me so happy! Keep it up!!! 🙂

Betsy

Yes! Please write about leaners. There were so many in the 400 level last night. Also people who stand on stairs or get up while the puck is in play. There is plenty of time before the game and during intermissions to get beer.

slapbetcomish

Have you guys been to a college hockey game? That’s where the “It’s all your fault” and “Who Cares” chants are coming from. I’m all for more crowd participation! The “It’s all your fault” chant is meant to be a goalie taunt, get in a goalies head and change the pace of a game. Granted I just wish they’d do it right…the CORRECT chant is “IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT…SIEVE SIEVE SIEVE!”

Agree!
“All your fault” is silly. “Who cares?” is dumb – Wes announces it in a truly somber/quiet tone, not to attract much attention to it, but we have to yell “who cares” to acknowledge we heard it AND paid attention. Sid’s stuff got too old, besides, the Kid’s record is pretty good and warrants at least some respect.

In addition, I wish Caps event organizers stopped that “intelligent decision” crap where they calculate % by observing the crowd and that “tv, phone, internet” stuff when some sections have to get up and waive their hands…Ugh, so irritating. Just bring good old “kiss camera, dance camera, flex camera, puck shuffle, hockey song” back.
Love the DC hat trick!

I agree on most–I think the “who cares” is out of bitterness that we got scored on–AGAIN. Who cares who scored it, what sucks is that the Caps let in another freaking goal.

As for shouting out RED, what’s the big deal? There were a hell of a lot of Stars fans at the Dallas game, and they shouted out STARS (probably a tradition in Dallas, go figure). It’s one little word and does less to the song than some singers who completely mangle it.

Thank you for pointing out the inherent misogyny in calling Crosby “Cindy”. There probably are women who could kick his ass (although I am not one of them) and would like to kick the asses of men who call Crosby a girl as an insult.

The first one you listed has always bothered me the most for the reasons you listed. If you believe it was all the goalies fault you’re ignoring all the great stuff our Caps did to get it into the goal.

I counter the “WHO CARES” crowd with a loudly bellowed “I CARE!” Not that it stops them, but maybe it will make the folks within earshot think about it for a few seconds . . . before they forget about it after the next goal against the Caps.

I like the “IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT” as a taunt, especially when the Caps have scored more than two goals. The count up followed by the triumphant recital of the Corner Bar (sections 108-109) is one of my favorite fan participation sequences at home games.

The “DC Hat Trick” is more embarrassing to me than the “RED” in the anthem. Most fans from other cities who watch their team play at Verizon Center will never hear the DC fans’ shameful ad-libs during our national anthem, but they will all see hats begin tossed on the ice by clueless, ignorant, fuckwad douchebag bandwagoners*.
*Not to be confused with the bandwagoners who aren’t clueless, ignorant, fuckwad douchebags. Some of them do exist.

would not call them “traditions”…2-3 years old…maybe “baby traditions”?

Revjim

“DC Hat Trick is STUPID. If you are a real hockey fan you know that the shootout is only a skills competition and not the way to determine the outcome of the game. Scoring your third goal in a shootout does not give you a hat trick.

Great post. Chanting “all your fault” or taunting the other team’s goalie when the game is tied or you have a one goal lead just makes our fans look stupid (and many of them don’t need help in that department). I guess since the great bandwagon leap of 2008, Caps games have become an “event”, and not a sporting event. People starting chants just to draw attention to themselves, costumed “superfans” who would not have been caught dead doing that when the team sucked (ala “Capman” and those idiots I’ve seen this year in red body suits). I do have to say I disagree with you on the DC Hat Trick thing. Throwing hats on the ice when a player earns a proper hat trick is one of the great traditions in sports, it’s one of the few times that fans get to participate (and throw things on the playing surface without being escorted out of the building). And any hockey fan knows, we love our traditions and hold them dear. Throwing hats on the ice when somebody scores in the shootout, after having two goals in regulation, is no different than throwing hats on the ice to celebrate a good body check. It doesn’t count as a goal on the player’s stats and there’s no hat trick. Therefore, there should be no hats. Let’s not forget that the Caps fanbase is considered a big bandwagon by other hockey fans, and the DC Hat Trick just adds fuel to other fans’ claims that Caps fans are just bandwagon jumpers who don’t know anything about the sport.

Corry Prate

The best is when I am taking my client to a game and I look at all of the fans like they have an irritable issue when they jump and high five each other whenever the “Capitals” (am I saying it right?) Being in attendance at a game should be eloquent and sterile. O pew pew.

Yours Truly,Corry Prate

Peter

haha yeah it is dumb thing, but it’s OUR stupid thing.

Sam Wolk

The part about the “RED” which bothers me the most is that it was used by the fans in Carolina for years before the Caps changed their colors back to red, white and blue. So whenever I hear it I immediately think of RBC Center crowds and the many Caps losses I’ve witnessed there in person.

Corry Prate

Oh my secretary didn’t revise this. I meant to say whenever the Capitals score. Oh my heavens to betsy. Anyways, I need to relegate myself to those brand new card board boxes they just constructed just to at least get out of the hustle and bustle during intermission. One more thing, I always give those who are wearing jerseys the stink eye. How dare they wear athletic wear to the event I’m taking MY client to. O pew pew.

Yours truly,
Corry Prate (that business a-hole)

Corry Prate

Oh my secretary didn’t revise this. I meant to say whenever the Capitals score. Oh my heavens to betsy. Anyways, I need to relegate myself to those brand new card board boxes they just constructed just to at least get out of the hustle and bustle during intermission. One more thing, I always give those who are wearing jerseys the stink eye. How dare they wear athletic wear to the event I’m taking MY client to. O pew pew.

Yours truly,
Corry Prate (that business a-hole)

Corry Prate

Oh my secretary didn’t revise this. I meant to say whenever the Capitals score. Oh my heavens to betsy. Anyways, I need to relegate myself to those brand new card board boxes they just constructed just to at least get out of the hustle and bustle during intermission. One more thing, I always give those who are wearing jerseys the stink eye. How dare they wear athletic wear to the event I’m taking MY client to. O pew pew.

Yours truly,
Corry Prate (that business a-hole)

Eddie

1) Any type of hooliganism during the National Anthem is just plain disrespectful. This is a song honoring our country, not a sports team. The “RED” thing? I’m over it – people won’t stop doing it. But the “O” thing? That was a Baltimore Orioles thing – keep it in Baltimore. Don’t bring it down here. Wait… it’s already been brought down here. Damn.
2) The “All Your Fault” thing? It’s funny… if we’re in the lead by two or more goals. Any less than that or if it’s said when we’re down? Unnecessary and uncalled for.
3) Total agreement – the “WHO CARES?” thing has got to go. Every time a team scores on us, we’d better care. It looks like that callout got to the players’ heads lately.

Anti-Leaner

I could care less…all I want is people to stop sitting on the edge of the seat in the upper deck. I would rather watch the game, then the back of your head!

Margaret

I love this blog, I read it all the time, but this article just pisses me off. There’s nothing wrong with these chants. I’m pretty sure the player that just scored a goal doesn’t feel like the fans are demeaning his talent by that chant, I’m pretty sure he’s just excited to have scored.
It’s not rude to shout during the anthem, I’ve seen it done at lots of other sporting events and it’s just another way to get the crowd going. I doubt Caleb Green is super hurt by this, since it’s been a tradition… He still does the fist pump after and looks excited to just have performed! I’ve sang the national anthem before at a school event and it’s FUN when people yell the signature chants during it.I can see where you’re coming from with the “who cares” chant, but I always see it as “who cares” about all the assists and crap when it’s being announced. It’s not like we chant it right when the other team scores and they’re celebrating and our goalie is looking all sad. That’s different. I just don’t want to hear all of the assists and crap being repeated. I don’t care about that.
And come on, really? I’m a girl, and I see nothing wrong with calling him Cindy every now and then. It’s not like most Caps fans say Cindy instead of Sidney every single time, it doesn’t even happen that much. It doesn’t bother me, I think that point is kind of obnoxious, actually.

This is just annoying. I love the Caps, and I hate being criticized for what I say at the game. This whole post sounds uppity and like you (and the rest of the fans who were silently irked by all of this) are somehow better than the rest of us. One post is not going to change the way we chant.

Skibrent

“All your fault” is just lame. There is nothing mean or particularly clever about it. I’d much prefer the cheer to be “You’re a DOUCHE!” THAT would at least be funny.

“Who cares” is also kind of lame, but it doesn’t bother me as much. I actually kind of like “Red” (though I hate “O” . . . we aren’t Orioles fans people). As for Crosby, anything and everything works for me . . . Cindy, Crysby, Little Bitch, whatever.

The best cheers are the ones that are funny and last. My favorite of all-time was “Potvin Sucks” in Madison Square Garden. What made it funny is that they were still yelling it 10 years after Dennis Potvin retired. Classic.

As a Philly resident who attends the occasional Flyers game (especially when my Caps are in town), I can assure you that you will NEVER see any blog ask Flyers fans to tone their their chants, taunts and activities, which are FAR WORSE than anything a Caps fan would do. If these antics are the worst things we do. . . be grateful, and proud.

David

I clicked this out of curiousity. I love this site, but this article doesn’t belong. Come on Peter, please don’t write about this kind of stuff right now. You really think little girls are going to think for a second that just because somebody yells out Cindy Crysby that she’s going to become self concious about being a girl? No. If that’s what bothers you, do a PSA about the media today.

A PuckBuddys perspective: the whole “playing like girls” thing – it’s not just hurtful to women. The implication is that a player is, if not a girl, than “like a girl” – as in gay. Sissy. Pansy. Homo. And the rest. It’s stupid plain and simple – and I defy anyone to say we’ve been “rooting for the other team” because we refuse to call an opponent a f@ggot. Be rowdy. Get up for the game. Just stop demeaning others – and yourself – by using stupid language.

Peter

Not asking anyone to tone down anything. Asking people to amp it up with more creative and better cheers.

The “Who Cares” chant has to go. And it has to go right now. It’s the last thing I want to hear when the other team scores. I applaud the intention behind the chant: “YEAH, YOU SCORED. OK. WE’RE STILL GOING TO WIN!” But it sounds stupid, it’s embarrassing for a whole hell of a lot my friends, and the 800 of you who chant it at games need to seriously re-evaluate. There’s SO much more you can do that would be way cooler. Hey, Sam and Goat are cool – maybe they can help. Maybe, we need an immediate TOOT TOOT TOOT or have Goat super-punch the guy to the right of him. Whatever you need, let them know. But the “Who Cares” chant has gotta end, and it’s gotta end today.

JW

SO calling him “Cindy” is injurious to women but calling him “a little bitch” isn’t?

Also: “There are three ways to categorize a goal: due to scorer skill, due to goalie error, or due to some combination of the two.” So, when we all cheer for the announcement of the goal scorer, we’re acknowledging the skill; immediately after _that_, we taunt the error (which is why the timing you note is important).

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. We’re all entitled to do whatever and/or think we want. At the end of the day we’re all fans, and we all just want to see a win. Though, since everyone else feels the need to think their opinion is better than everyone else’s, I’ll tell mine too.

As for the all your fault thing, as long as you’re not a ref about the call the previous call a ‘no goal.’ feel free to say whatever the hell you want. The Caps scored, I’m happy.

Red in the national anthemn…I’m too busy laughing too hard about what you just did/too excited for the game I’m about to see. As for the O, I’m a proud Balti-moron and not afraid to show it. Nothing gives me a better laugh than seeing you DC people get so pissed off so easily.

Who cares chant…clearly it wasn’t started because people honestly didn’t care that the other team just scored a goal. If that was the case, they wouldn’t be showing disapproval that the PA announcer just announced who scored the goal.

Calling Crosby a girl? Last I checked professional athletes don’t get their feelings hurt by taunts from the fans and I’m sure a lot of girls would be honored to be compared to someone as good at hockey as Sid the kid.

If you really wanna bring up complaints about fans and what they do, maybe you should complain about the seat leaners, the assholes who make an entire row stand up during the game so they can get to their seat, or the douchebag business man who’s too busy checking his cell phone to watch the game.

Duffman

A-freakin’-men to all the points you made. I’ve agreed with all of those for a while now. I never yell Red, Who Cares, or All Your Fault for the exact reasons you mentioned. When I score a goal, I usually feel it’s cuz of my skill, not cuz the goalie sucked. If my teammate told me after at the bench, “man, that goalie stinks” I’d be a little pissed. When the crowd yells, who cares, I respond with “I do! I care we got scored on.” And I do kind of care when an opponent scores on us and is on my fantasy team. Thanks Gaborik!

VaMedic

I love you guys, and I admire what you are trying with this post. I disagree, and I don’t even like all of the cheers you brought up. As a result, I don’t participate in the ones I don’t like, and do in the ones I do. (You don’t really care which ones I do and don’t like, and that’s okay) The seats of a hockey rink are a mini democracy in that sense. You like a cheer, yell it. If not, don’t. If enough don’t..it will die. If you don’t like it and it gets louder over time, you are are minority. Life is simple sometimes.

If you read the comments, you get I like this A but not B, or I like B and not A. And that’s the point. It is organic and not something to be prescribed anywhere other than in the moment. You have a cheer you like better, yell it. If others start, it was a ‘good’ cheer. If not, you can still yell it alone.

As for classy, as long as someone in the stands is not personally attacking a fan of another team in the stands, I don’t care. I have lost a lot of sleep over a lot of things, serious and otherwise, but I have never lost a week giving a care about what a fan of random-not-the-caps-team thinks of how I enjoy my team.

My 2 cents, into the pixel hopper with the rest.

Anonymous

NO.

VaMedic

Yes, it should have been “Never lost a WINK”…sigh.

Anonymous

thank you.

Peter

“little bitch” is in italics and contained in a statement of things we do NOT like or approve of.

pissedoffvet

These chants and cheers are part of what makes the Verizon Center a fun place to go. They get the fans involved and the louder we are the more the players respond to it. Just read the comments the players made at the Winter Classic. They loved that we yelled Red because it made them feel like they were back in DC.

The only cheer/chant I have a problem with is the “O”. We’re not the Orioles. They are in Baltimore where that started and it should stay there. Instead we should all yell “Ovi” as that at least fits the event.

My biggest issue here though is with your take on the Cindy Crysby thing. Who gives a rats ass if we call him a girl’s name? I know plenty of female hockey fans and NONE of them (including some uber-feminists) are be offended by it. Women aren’t stupid nor are they so sensitive that they would be hurt by 18000+ people calling a guy by a girls name. They know and understand that it is just a hockey game and not a social commentary.

But hey, you also probably had a problem with all the F bombs Boudreau dropped during 24/7. I beet you wrote to the NHL saying (sniffle sniffle) coaches should be nicer to their players or their feelings might get hurt. You probably also think that they should take fighting out of the game.

Can we please stop trying to ‘pussify’ America with rules based on someone’s feeling being hurt? Grow up, sack up, and be an adult. Shit doesn’t always go your way. Your team doesn’t always win. And that’s life. Deal with it.

I hope no one thinks of what I wrote as anything more than my opinion. I’m not the boss of anyone. I’m glad everyone is sharing their thoughts.

I wish some people would have read what I wrote a bit more carefully though…

jgoggs23

Kudos to this post, been hoping to rid VC of those dumb cheers for a while…

Peter

I wrote, recorded, and published a song on this website celebrating those swear words.

Peter

Actually 4 songs.

@Capsfans1921

Wow! Peter, I think you’ve hit a nerve with this one! Now for my $0.02; The “Who cares” bit has to go, until this team proves it is capable of playing a COMPLETE well fought hockey game, let alone win. We as fans we better care. And overall it does sound pretty lame, because the whole arena doesn’t do it. . .

Pissedoffvet

We yell “who cares” when the other team scores, not ours. And we do that because we don’t care who scored the goal. We don’t care at all about the other team’s players and their stats. All we care about we already know. They scored on us, we are pissed and yelling ‘who cares’ helps relieve stress.

Anonymous

when we get scored on, I CARE. when the game is tied scoreless, or tied otherwise, or if we have a one goal lead, or are behind – you know, most of most games lately – i ESPECIALLY care. people yelling “who cares!” and grinning like fools just don’t get it. you look like n00bs, people.

i went to bu for grad school. i know about some college hockey. i love that we stand and turn our backs, waving a finger in the air as each of the opposing team’s starting lineup is introduced, then turn around, point, and yell SUCKS! i love the “sieve!” chants, and chanting the opposing goalie’s name. (we can address the condoms = safe sex = DE-FENSE another time, but i love that too.) but trust me… when you’re watching bu vs bc in the beanpot, and the evil empire scores… I FUCKING CARE. fuck em up, fuck em up, bc sucks!!! GO BU! GO BU! GO BU!… and let’s go caps.

(i miss poti. sniffle.)

CJ

Caps are at their worst? I surely remember times going to VC and counting the EMPTY sections during games. This is far away from the caps at their worst. I agree, we are in an in between period, transitioning between coaches and helping our team find their stride but these have not always been “fan traditions”.

I think a lot of people need to remember what it was like to be a fan with we never won games, the fans who attended those games did not yell things like Who Cares after each goal scored against us. A lot of these “traditions” came with the flux of fans that began buying tickets when the Caps popularity spiked.

Ovi Wan Knuble

Amen brother…”It’s all your fault!” and “Who caress?” are so silly….RED i can live with as long as people STILL yell “O!” (the most annoying chant of all…get over it. We have the Nats now – save it for a Ravens game…)

serpent

Maybe if Crosby toned down the whine and that awful lip gloss, folks wouldn’t resort to “Cindy”

MoJoPlease

Having served more than 20 years in the USMC, I can honestly say that I am not offended when fans yell “RED” during our anthem. The first time I participated was at the Winter Classic, and now I’m not embarrassed to say that I now do it at the VC. The ‘O’ on the other hand…keep that at Camden Yards!

I am okay with the other chants because they are fan based and not forced on us by VC Entertainment. On the other hand, I’m a fan of ‘Unleash the Fury’ – which is “forced” on us. Lighten up, Peter. Let’s spend our effort educating the ‘leaners’ and not stomping on the positive behavior displayed by Caps fans.

Peter

You’re gonna tell me to lighten up? I’ve been writing jokes everyday– just for you guys– for years.

Peter

Ballet is freaking tough. Have you SEEN those guys?

Again, not saying you can’t or shouldn’t yell at players. It’s like you’re not even reading what I wrote. I’m saying we can do BETTER cheers and chants and taunts– one that aren’t so problematic.

Ovis_Missing_Tooth

Just to add a point from a different perspective, I have a 6 year old son and he loves all of the items addressed in the article. He gets so excited for the national anthem just to scream “RED”. He also enjoys yelling at the refs and opposing players. He understands that this is all in good fun and that type of behavior is not appropriate outside of this setting. He calls Crosby a “girl” and proudly will say that the Rangers suck. But he is well aware of the context in which he is hurling these insults.

Ovis_Missing_Tooth

Well said sir.

Vokeswagon

I really like the “its all your fault” chant, but it’d be better is it was after 4 or so goals scored. I think the chants are fun.

Vokeswagon

I really like the “its all your fault” chant, but it’d be better is it was after 4 or so goals scored. I think the chants are fun.

Niemann

THANK YOU!! There is nothing I hate more than “it’s all your fault”. (Have you heard the lady in Section 105 that’s been trying to add an even more moronic second half to the chant??)

Livia

Good for you, Peter, for speaking up about these bad habits and for taking on a mob that is powerful only because of its numbers. I agree with your post entirely, especially the particular brand of name-calling directed at Sidney Crosby. I’d even like to see booing of star players, ours and other teams’, whenever they touch the puck, die out, but I know I’m dreaming.

Livia

Good for you, Peter, for speaking up about these bad habits and for taking on a mob that is powerful only because of its numbers. I agree with your post entirely, especially the particular brand of name-calling directed at Sidney Crosby. I’d even like to see booing of star players, ours and other teams’, whenever they touch the puck, die out, but I know I’m dreaming.

You’re an Idiot

You have some real balls posting this after yesterday’s game. We have a right to be pissed off and behave how we do.

Stevelingo

I hate “all your fault” but “Who Cares” is even worse. I understand they’re saying they don’t care who scored the goal but the bottom line is our team was just scored on. I CARE!!! Start a Let’s Go CAPS over the top or something.

Can we stop using “pussified” to describe a weakening of something? It’s balls that are weak and sensitive. A pussy can take a pounding.

Sentientcheese

Not sure I get you. If our nativism is these chants (for the record I start all your fault at 2… unless the first was really the fault of the goalie.) Then why try to change it? Course… and not to denigrate your service to the region, One blog post will not change the culture.

Glad to see you agree with the sentiment of “(the dc hat trick) is a dumb tradition, but its our tradition”

Love your blog, good to see we can disagree without resorting to internet violence

My section is horrible for this. It seems like the bottom few rows are all broker-owned and it is all new people that don’t have any leaning etiquette, or dbag opposition fans.

JW (in the Corner Bar)

-The “it’s all your fault” isn’t so bad but I’d prefer to give the scorer props than blame the goalie.-

Why is it “either/or”? Why can’t we do BOTH? We cheer the goal when it’s scored, we cheer the announcement of the player(s) that scored it, and _then_ we taunt the team/goalie that allowed it.

Seems to me like all the proper things, in the proper order. Feel free to join/not join in.

VaMedic

You bet. Nothing but respect for you and how you put it here.

It seems like the “We can do better” part of your intended message is lost in the comments. There is a lot more on “I Like/dislike this one”. Not enough, “Hey, what else can we do?”

And yes, I’m Chris, but without a pic, I figured the VaMedic name is more familiar.

Colin

And yet the shootout is a skills competition that DOES determine the outcome of the game. That’s why it’s a *DC* Hat Trick. A Gordie Howe Hat Trick is only ONE goal. We know they didn’t score three actual regulation goals, but what’s wrong with congratulating a player who’s clearly made a difference in the game?

RedTrollin’

Yeah, why don’t we just send them home to watch it on TV where no one can complain about how they’re enjoying themselves in the fashion they choose to do so? Problem?

ORazor

“A lot of these “traditions” came with the flux of fans that began buying tickets when the Caps popularity spiked.”

Concur. And it’s these traditions that help keep butts in seats after years of losing in the playoffs.

Sarazen

Thanks for this post. Folks might not like to admit it, but the words we use have power, and we do communicate much more in the subtext than we realize. I particularly like the bit about calling Sydney ‘Cindy’. I agree completely that this type of insult suggests that there is something bad about being female, right along with all the other insults made to men that also refer to female body parts, ailments, or bodily functions.

Hockey is such a wonderfully fun sport, and the men who enjoy it tend to be a dynamic and interesting group. They can definitely do better, and those of us female Caps fans would love them all the more for it too.

Soooo … ya know my daughter (who is named Lillie) is a Tier 1 goalie and can take a serious beating any day of the week and twice on weekends. She absolutely hates Sydney Crosby. She also hates it when people call him Cindy … because she works pretty fucking hard to be a damn good goalie and hearing people put down girls in sports is insulting no matter which way you spin it. Find another way to insult him and stop being an asshole.

I appreciate your comment and prospective. But hockey is a sport that is built on toughness, playing hurt, fighting and missing teeth. It is not for the sensitive or the easily offended. If you take offense to someone calling Crosby a girl than how do you react when two players are trying to beat each other into a bloody, submission on the ice? Wouldn’t you feel this violence is more inappropriate than name calling?

Great post, Peter … I particularly like the bit about how to vilify Sydney Crosby. There’s got to be a better way than putting down girls/women. We’re better than he is anyway 😉

I think this is great time to examine our role in how the team is doing. We fans provide a lot of the team’s energy on any given night. I’d lay odds too that many of the players read these blogs to find out what we’re all thinking of them. When they read positive things on the blogs and hear positive energy on the ice they’re going to go on to do well in their games. We’ve seen it happen. When they’re doing poorly and the energy gets sucked out of the building, they start holding their sticks too tight and the game goes downhill. It happens every time. So maybe it is time to review those so-called stupid chants and think about how they might be effecting our beloved team.

Jtevans

Bravo to RMNB and Hassett for speaking his mind. It takes a set of stones to write something like this knowing you’ll get a ton of negative feedback from the caps fans. Hats off to you sir! I may have to visit this site more often.

MikeF703

Agree 100%

MikeF703

Agree 100%

Sam Wolk

When the Redskins begin to win again you can bet your ass those same fans who brought these “traditions” to hockey will no longer plague the Verizon Center.

Peter

Haha! I did NOT know I’d get negative feedback or a ton of it. I thought I’d get 8 comments, most of em asking when Kuzya is coming over and demanding Ovi give up the C.

Peter

You lighten up, you big meanie. I packed like 20 jokes into this article!

Guest

Best. RMNB. Article. Ever.

Sam Wolk

They do the Potvin Sucks chant still. It’s awesome.

Sam Wolk

I think you’re confusing “right” with “privilege”.

Sam Wolk

I think you’re confusing “right” with “privilege”.

Lolghost

While I agree on most points, I must assert: Don’t tell me what to do.

As a female who hates hates hates Crosby, I have to say thank you for that part – even though reading the comments it’s pretty easy to tell who has and has not been able to look past their irrational/rational hate for any mentionage of his name anywhere to actually attempt to UNDERSTAND what you are saying here. Make fun of Crysobby but leave the chicks = weak shit out of it (otherwise this angry Jersey Girl will kick your ass <3)

As a female who hates hates hates Crosby, I have to say thank you for that part – even though reading the comments it’s pretty easy to tell who has and has not been able to look past their irrational/rational hate for any mentionage of his name anywhere to actually attempt to UNDERSTAND what you are saying here. Make fun of Crysobby but leave the chicks = weak shit out of it (otherwise this angry Jersey Girl will kick your ass <3)

Peter

By telling me not to tell you what to do, aren’t YOU telling ME what to do?

Peter

By telling me not to tell you what to do, aren’t YOU telling ME what to do?

Lolghost

tl;dr version: Be a fan in the way that I want you to be.

Revjim

And you can jump off the Bandwagon any time now. The only reason it is a DC hat trick is because bandwagoners don’t know when a real hat trick is.

Joe

So only people who have been performing their shtick for years should get to continue it? I wonder what the viewpoint was when a horn began blowing at the game or somebody started yelling loudly from 105… I think there should be room at the game for whatever “traditions” people want to start and continue on…

Having said that, I don’t yell during the national anthem. I consider it disrespectful, but that’s just me…

Anonymous

Okay, it’s awesome if you want to yell something. I get the stress part. I’m generally cursing at the TV at home or cursing at Horn Guy when I’m at the games. But maybe try something like standing towards the opponents’ bench yelling “WE’RE STILL GOING TO BEAT YOU” or a loud “Let’s Go Caps!” chant. Hell, make Goat do push-ups. The “Who Cares” is weak and it makes a lot of the other fans around you angry. There are so many better options.

Aluisechris

These are not traditions… It’s nonsense

Ryan Perks

I agree wholeheartedly with this post and want to add some extra details to the problem with the “It’s All Your Fault” chant. First off, I dislike the chant and would prefer it to not happen at all. However, it could be made at least slightly more palatable if the following were observed:
1. Never do the chant when the Caps are not in the lead. You don’t taunt when you’re not winning. As a more succinct and personal favorite sports taunt of mine points out, “Scoreboard.”
2. If the opposing team changes goalies – guess what folks, all the goals up until then are not All His Fault. Chant should be scrapped in this instance or re-start the count.
3. Scrap the chant for first Caps’ goal of the game. Going through a countdown of “1” is inane.
On second thought, just scrap the chant. Can’t we come up with something a little more clever?

Deanna

I absolutely agree with you. I’m in college and “It’s all your fault!” and “Who cares?” are frequently heard in our barn (although “Who Cares?” is only done during the announcement of the starting lineup). I think they’re childish here, and I can’t imagine hearing a bunch of grown adults yelling them.

shawn

The “It’s all your fault” shit reminds me of how assholes in other towns act, You may not mind it, but I would prefer it if other teams didn;t think they were playing in a city that was tring to be Philadelphia.

I appreciate not only your consideration but also your taking the time to respond. However I’ve gotta disagree with your assumptions.

Though hockey is the fourm where this discussion has come up, it is not the subject. I am a hockey fan. What you describe about hockey pretty much explains everything I LIKE about the sport. (you left out masculine cooperation, passion, strategy and accountability.) I LIKE the fights that arise out of the passion of game.That I don’t like slurring men, by describing them as women has nothing to do with my tolerance of hockey violence. I don’t have a problem with disrespecting Crosby. I have a problem with people showing disrespect for me and my entire gender.If you want to call Crosby weak, fragile, whiney, soft, frail, unstable, delicate or vulnerable then call him that. Don’t call him a girl and imply those things. When you do you insult me too.

Piovino

who is this idiot? if you don’t like it, stay home!

Piovino

It’s for Ovechkin, stupid, not the Orioles.

Let’s have fun

To be honest, I don’t care who scores for the caps, as long as they have more goals at the end of the game then the team we are palying. The only people that care who scored for the visiting team are the player that scored (one goal closer to a bigger contract) that team, and the NHL Record keepers. Are you trying to turn this into the NFL (No Fun League)? And yes we know it’s not always the goalies fault, but sometimes it is. The only time I have a problem with saying it is when the other team changes goalies and he gets scored on, then we should start the count over… lol Go to every arena in ever sport, and you will find some type of tradition, thats just how it goes in sports.

Let’s have fun

To be honest, I don’t care who scores for the caps, as long as they have more goals at the end of the game then the team we are palying. The only people that care who scored for the visiting team are the player that scored (one goal closer to a bigger contract) that team, and the NHL Record keepers. Are you trying to turn this into the NFL (No Fun League)? And yes we know it’s not always the goalies fault, but sometimes it is. The only time I have a problem with saying it is when the other team changes goalies and he gets scored on, then we should start the count over… lol Go to every arena in ever sport, and you will find some type of tradition, thats just how it goes in sports.

Piovino

Go, Lillie!

Piovino

Go, Lillie!

Wtheath

No need for people to get angry. Instead, they should answer back with a boisterous and polite, “Well, good sir or ma’am, because you asked, I shall inform you that I am guilty of particating in an act of caring in this manner,” chant.

DarkStranger

On the new “traditions”. Agree that “Who cares” is dumb.

People at least use their brain for the Intelligent Decisions trivia question so that one I support.

I don’t particularly care for the “tv, phone, internet” race.

Shinaain

And for this, you guys are officially the heroes of my day.

green52fan

I loved the post…… to each their own.. it’s their blog they can blog what they want to…

andrew

Thank you, soooooooo much. The who cares/It’s all your fault BS is the worst of it all. I recall watching a game on TV and we were down by like 3 and we score, which is great, but then the “it’s all your fault” chant comes out, but the game was wrapped up, a loss was going to happen, so the opposing goalie probably had the biggest s-eating grin on his face, and it just sounds so childish. So basically the chant makes us all look like hockey noobs.

I was really hoping that RMNB would mention the cowbells, mostly because they are so annoying and have no character. How about we just cheer the home team and enjoy the hockey game?

Sean9769

Actually it is for the Orioles dumbass they have done it for years even before Ovechkyn made an appearance

Sean9769

Ovechkin**

Sean9769

One word YUPPIES The blue collar true fan is a dying breed

JW

Great ideas, Ryan. Now, YOU’RE in charge of communicating The Rules, on the fly, to a couple thousand (mostly drunk) hockey fans, who are paying far more attention to Wes’s announcement than to anything you might do or say. Best of luck.

The Corner Bar actually tried #3 pre-season, but the chant went on without us.

You are cordially invited to “come up with something a little more clever” and let ‘er rip it at the Caps game of your choice; if enough of us like it, it’ll continue and grow. After all, that’s how “ALL YOUR FAULT” got started in the first place.

guest

sounds like you want us to just sit on or hands and do nothing…..

Sentientcheese

not really.

-Redskin fan/Capitals fan.

Sdezmond

I don’t usually comment, but when I do, it’s because of posts like this. Love it. Yes, let’s make the building our own, but let’s do it in other ways, and not with, frankly, childish chants of “It’s all your fault ” and “who cares?” It’s just dumb.

So let’s start chanting like they do in European football. Maybe have a standing room only supporters section like Barra Brava. The other stuff, it just makes us look bad in an “act like you’ve been there before” kind of way.

Rosa

As a female who loves this site i have to say that this post is fantastic. Specially the ‘Cindy’ part. I don’t even care that there’s comments from people that don’t realise how offensive it is to us women cos i am so glad that there’s men who understand. Thanks so much.

Ha! The Penguins are far better than the CAPS will ever be. How many cups do you have again? That’s what I thought. Sidney Crosby is the NHL, get over it! Calling him names and mocking him will not bring you a championship. Crosby is the best player in hockey right now… he is the NHL’s version of Tom Brady. If you do not live in the New England area then chances are you hate the guy. But in reality, we all wish he was on our teams. If Crosby was a Cap, you’d love him, period! The CAPS SUCK!!!

PSU2GU

GREAT ARTICLE!!!!! In no way do I see you bashing the fans here. I think we can all agree entuhusiasm should be supported. Love the “Cindy” comment. I don’t need everything to be p.c but you’re right, what’s wrong with being a chick? No one wants us to turn into “those fans” – if you want to be a jackass, move to Philly. 😉

Bruce

Good luck trying to change the traditions of your braindead, bandwagon fan base.

The best thing that could happen to hockey is the Verizon Center roof collapses during a game.

Kcaps2

Thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Annoyed

There’s a witch in my section who screams “SIT DOWN” anytime someone in her line of sight dares lean forward or, God forbid, stand up when a Caps player is on a breakaway. Sorry, but fans like her really need to get over themselves. It’s obnoxious and rude.

Vasil

You forgot to mention “Os” during the National anthem.
Plus most important, DON’T trash your team! Cheer when they do well, no boos! They have enough to worry about. Be TRUE fans…

Peter

I mentioned the O.

Ben

We should absolutely stop the “DC Hat Trick” thing. It makes our already bandwagon fanbase look STUPID. The people throwing their hats literally think it’s a legit hat trick. I want to get out of the arena as soon as that happens. So annoying and frustrating. IT’S NOT A HAT TRICK!!

backstromsfrontstrom

This post I think is really relevant and well done.

And as for the whole keep it in Baltimore…Baltimore is just as much fans of the CAPs as Washington. Must I remind you all of how you all were Os fans before the Nats…and how so many Marylanders were Skins fans before the Ravens?

It’s all in good fun…

Thanks Peter for this article 🙂

Poppy

Good article! I completely agree with the comments about calling Sidney Crosby Cindy. Yes, I’m a girl and I find it insulting that in order to demean professional athletes we compare them to girls. You’re telling girls that their skating or athletic abilities are second rate compared to guys’. Is the most insulting thing that we can think of about Sidney is that his name sounds like a girls name? I hate the Flyers and I still thought that the ad about him being “Chrissy Pronger” (looks like Tarzan, skates like Jane) was in poor taste.

Casey

…yeah, and no one ANYWHERE throws their hat onto the ice for a Gordie Howe hat trick.

You know, I thought a lot about what you said and then I went to the Skins game. I had the misfortune of being behind drunk New Yorkers (I want to kill the season ticket holders who sold on stub hub) and it really ruined the entire experience for me.

There is no reason to act like those New Yorkers. We are a better lot IMHO.

hockeynightinDC

Most, not all, but most of the “new” Caps hockey fans that came after the 07-08 season make the true and classy Capitals fans look bad and ruin the experiences for those who do behave. Beer is no longer served in bottles because some idiot threw one at Jeff Carter. Another idiot spilled beer over Tortorella, so now security is even tighter, and you have Caps fans fighting Caps fans. They aren’t even fun to talk to at the games because they have no past knowledge of the Caps history nor do they know any of the fundamentals of the game.

I agree that it’s great that they show love for our men and women in uniform, and the “we are louder” was awesome! I can do without the “All your fault” and “who cares” chant. Just stupid.

I think that’s a really unfair thing to say. You shouldn’t blame that on “new” fans. I have good friends that have loved the caps for years that got me into hockey and we all like to go to the game and get wild. Not throwing things of course, but for example after we beat the Rangers 2:0 last year, I went out and had a dance-off in front of the trash can drummer outside. For all you know that could have been an “old” fan that did that nasty classless stuff. It it makes sense that stuff would be a lot easier to get away with when the stands are full.

And for the record, I check about 5 different hockey news sources throughout the day, every day. I taught myself the rules within the first few months after the Caps/Pens series the year they won the cup, and i routinely watch old hockey games and videos. This is all from a fan that didn’t like watching any sport on TV (ever) and sadly never got a chance to play hockey as a kid. I think the holier than thou attitude from long time hockey fans is a joke.

There’s no girls in the NHL. Maybe people aren’t trying to offend him. Maybe they just want equality so they tell one of the better players in the game about the imbalance, in hopes that he’ll go all white-knight like he did on head-shots after he got concussed. And for the record, Crosby looks like a girl too. DSL’s.

Kaycie

This is the worst RMNB post I’ve ever read. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I’ll be brief in telling you why you’re wrong.
The “RED” comes from Baltimore where we say “OH!” for the Orioles just before “say does that star-spangled.” It’s a good tradition. It’s a Maryland pride thing and we’re including the Caps which means we LOVE them.”It’s all your fault” is our way of getting under the goalie’s skin. Cheering our faces off when they list the names of the scorer and this assist is surely giving credit where credit is due.”Who cares” is dismissive. We’re saying “it’s okay boys, you’ll get the next one, brush it off.” Since that is a tad difficult to get a crowd to chant all that in unison, we go with “who cares.”I don’t want to talk about Cindy Crysby. I call him Sidney Cry-baby, but I guess that’s offensive to babies. Oopsies.

Joe King

I would suggest going to Dallas and telling the fans to stop shouting “STAR” during the anthem. I would also suggest going to Chicago and telling the fans to stop cheering during the singing of the anthem.

I get the “Who cares” chant. Most of these other habits I’ve seen originate from Admirals games long before they migrated to Verizon Center. I think it’s mostly because we are not smart enough to chant “Mil-ler” or “Fleu-ry”.

Danielle C.

”
When you call him Cindy as an insult, you’re perpetuating that boys club nonsense, and it is keeping a pretty cool sport on the fringes.”

Thank you for that. I am sick of people using feminine characteristics and names as insults. Like being a woman is so terrible.

Russian Machine Never Breaks is not associated with the Washington Capitals; Monumental Sports, the NHL, or its properties. Not even a little bit.